I don't go over 4mil for Smid and that is over paying him .5mil at least maybe even a bit more than that. You can't pay too much money on a dman that has no offense. Any player that can't be signed has to be moved for an asset, these assets can be used in a trade to get players that we need.

Max for Smid should be 4 mil/season. Anything more and he becomes a burden on the cap got what he brings.

I could live with a little more for a shorter term...2 years max. See how he does and go from there...he's 27 and just getting to his prime years and seems to be turning into a player now that he knows his role.

Hard to replace what he brings as the Oilers are never going to get equal value back in a trade.

I'd like to see a real shutdown D signed. Smid is a poor mans shut down D with a history of being on losing Oiler teams who would be no higher than a #5 on a top team. Why pay top 2-3 money for a 5-6 D. Loyalty has no place in the discussion, you either build a winner or become the New York Islanders. Pick one.

I'd like to see a real shutdown D signed. Smid is a poor mans shut down D with a history of being on losing Oiler teams who would be no higher than a #5 on a top team. Why pay top 2-3 money for a 5-6 D. Loyalty has no place in the discussion, you either build a winner or become the New York Islanders. Pick one.

If you can get him signed for the same type of cash N.Schultz is making you do it. Then you move Schultz out who has been beyond useless here.

He's worth 5-6 money not a nickel more. I agree Nick Schultz is out of his element here. The Oilers aren't going anywhere with this pathetic D corps we have, save JS.

The lack of depth is the biggest problem, Corey Potter playing regular or Smid and Petry playing well over 20 mins a night, one or two more competent defenders to spread out the minutes would make a huge difference.

The lack of depth is the biggest problem, Corey Potter playing regular or Smid and Petry playing well over 20 mins a night, one or two more competent defenders to spread out the minutes would make a huge difference.

Exactly. That would drive Smid to the 5 spot where he would excel. As a 2-3 guy he's way out of his element no different than Horcoff was at the 1 spot C. So why pay 2-3 money for a number 5 D? Don't overpay like we have in the past, save the money for the kids and draft/trade/sign on the D side now. Oh, and get a reliable goalie. Bernier would be a great fit here.

Exactly. That would drive Smid to the 5 spot where he would excel. As a 2-3 guy he's way out of his element no different than Horcoff was at the 1 spot C. So why pay 2-3 money for a number 5 D? Don't overpay like we have in the past, save the money for the kids and draft/trade/sign on the D side now. Oh, and get a reliable goalie. Bernier would be a great fit here.

what? Ugh with you people.

Smid can play in the top-4 Just Fine, he's just not a top-pairing guy, which isn't his fault.

Nick Schultz in the #5 spot is the ideal place for him, that would give much more stability to the defense corps, but the problem is bringing in that top-4 guy to replace him, yet to have been done yet.

Smids a 5 who can play at the 4 spot but not continently nor over the long haul. Unlike the Smid apologists I won't give him a free pass just because he has been here a long time. He's also part of the losing culture here. Watch the live play of the 4-5 d men in the league (not TV hilights) and you see very quickly the difference. Smid gets a free pass here in this town because he is a hard working player, and I give him that. But he's not a 2-3. Hs a 5 and sometimes 4.

N.Schultz making the amount of money he is making to be a 3rd pairing dman is too much money. Keep Smid and Petry as the 2nd pairing and then we have to get someone to play with J.Schultz as the top pairing. This is what we have for next year and what we have to fill to be a contending team.
top pairing dman; J.Schultz
Smid; Petry
Fistric; 3rd pairing dman that can move puck
Potter

So, who are the two dmen we go after. I am thinking sign Smid for 3.5mil and then Boychuk from BOS to play with Schultz.

Smids a 5 who can play at the 4 spot but not continently nor over the long haul. Unlike the Smid apologists I won't give him a free pass just because he has been here a long time. He's also part of the losing culture here. Watch the live play of the 4-5 d men in the league (not TV hilights) and you see very quickly the difference. Smid gets a free pass here in this town because he is a hard working player, and I give him that. But he's not a 2-3. Hs a 5 and sometimes 4.

Schultz is the same player as Smid. A 4-5.

No, they really aren't. They play "similar" games, but they aren't the same player, wow.

One guy plays like a mean SOB in front of the net, the other a quiet game you don't notice. I'll take the guy trying to make an impact every shift. Smid is a solid shutdown guy. Schultz is a Kreuger type of guy, simply plays not to make a mistake (which sees possession die on his stick more often than not).

N.Schultz making the amount of money he is making to be a 3rd pairing dman is too much money. Keep Smid and Petry as the 2nd pairing and then we have to get someone to play with J.Schultz as the top pairing. This is what we have for next year and what we have to fill to be a contending team.
top pairing dman; J.Schultz
Smid; Petry
Fistric; 3rd pairing dman that can move puck
Potter

So, who are the two dmen we go after. I am thinking sign Smid for 3.5mil and then Boychuk from BOS to play with Schultz.

Out Whitney and N.Schultz. In Streit and Scuderi.

Streit-Smid
Schultz-Scuderi
Petry-Fistric
Potter,UFA for depth

Thats a playoff caliber defence. If we can't get Streit one of Vishnovsky or Zidlicky would work as a replacement. #1 thing is we have to land Scuderi.

Thats a playoff caliber defence. If we can't get Streit one of Vishnovsky or Zidlicky would work as a replacement. #1 thing is we have to land Scuderi.

I like the idea, but I have no idea why Scuderi would choose us when he is sure to have a dozen suitors (do we want to discuss the merits of a bidding war for a 34 yr old stay-at-home guy when we can't decide what Smid is worth), has won 2 cups in the last 4 years (would choose a more competitive team than ours), is American born and 34 years old (could see his next contract be his last, NY born and raised so I say Rangers).